Posted on Tuesday 15th Oct 2019
By the age of seven, children are already facing limits on their future aspirations in work, according to a report from the OECD international economics think tank.
Andreas Schleicher, the OECD's director of education and skills, says "talent is being wasted" because of ingrained stereotyping about social background, gender and race.
He is backing a project from the Education and Employers careers charity to give children a wider understanding of the range of jobs available.
Social mobility barriers
Mr Schleicher says children have begun making assumptions about what type of people will enter different types of work while they are still in primary school.
There are only "minimal changes" in attitudes towards career options between the ages of seven and 17, says the report produced jointly by the OECD and Education and Employers.
Latest News
25/11/22Oxford University's Ukrainian scholarships to continue
Ukrainian students displaced by the Russian invasion could study at Oxford University as part of a new scheme.
15/11/22New special needs teaching block could be built at Strood high school
Strood Academy wants to open the new site, which would support 25 children on the autism spectrum
24/08/22BTEC and Cambridge Technicals results delay - government releases new statement
Government orders exam boards Pearson and OCR to give regular updates
02/08/22Vocational and training qualifications decline during pandemic By Robbie Meredith
The number of vocational and technical qualifications (VTQs) awarded in Northern Ireland fell by about 20% during the Covid pandemic.
19/01/22What are the Covid rules in schools and will they stay open this term?
Face coverings will no longer be compulsory in England's secondary school classrooms from 20 January.